Viv’s Tips for Virtual

When schools closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, Vivian helped her great-nephew, Tobi, transition to Launch Virtual Learning. Now a sixth grader, Tobi has been learning online ever since. As his Great Aunt, Vivian has walked beside him every step of the way—follow her tips to help your own child find success.

  1. Treat It Like a Job.
    From day one, Vivian made sure Tobi understood that virtual school was very much still school. “You’ve got to get up every morning and go to work,” she says. “Your teacher is like your boss. You have to do what your teacher says.” Tobi is up at 8 a.m., logs in before 8:30, works until lunch, then finishes his day around 2:30 p.m. Keeping this consistent routine helped him shift from feeling nervous to thriving. “He ran with it,” Vivian says. “And he hasn’t stopped.”
  2. Remove Distractions.
    Vivian created a dedicated workspace for Tobi in a room that’s used as the “family room” in the evenings. In this room, Tobi’s workspace is complete with a table that houses his computer, mouse, pencils, paper and whiteboard—everything he needs, and nothing he doesn’t.“No TV, no music, no phones and no tablets are in there,” she explains. “There is nothing in there to distract him.” If Tobi gets stuck on an assignment, he calls for help. Otherwise, being in that space signals it’s time to focus. “You can’t just put a child in virtual school and let it go,” she says. “Check on them. Make sure they’re doing the work.”
  3. Be Their Biggest Cheerleader
    Vivian believes encouragement makes all the difference. “I am a firm believer that kids need to feel supported and like they’re doing well,” Vivian says. Whether it’s checking grades, reminding Tobi to message his teacher, or celebrating his progress, she stays involved. And her message to every Launch student? “I wish I could talk to all the Launch kids and tell them, ‘You’ve got this!,’” Vivian says. “Even though it’s virtual, you can do this. You can make friends. You can succeed. I believe in you!”